Finding of the Study
Socio-economic background of the Mentally-
Retarded children:
a) The sex-wise distribution of mentally-retarded
children accommodated in the school reveals that of
the total, two-thirds (66.4%) of them were males
whereas females’ proportion in the total is (33.6%)
one-third. This shows that mental retardation was
more among males than females.
b) Approximately three-fourths (70.5%) of the mentally
retarded children belonged to backward castes
while the rest were Scheduled Castes (22.5%) and
7% others. It evidences that the prevalence of mental
retardation was found more among background
castes in the study area.
c) In the light of the educational background of the
children’s parents, a large majority of them (parents)
were literates (68%) followed by illiterates (32%). It
proves that birth to children with mental retardation
is more among educationally poor in the society. As
far as parental occupation of such children was concerned,
three-fourths (76%) of them were daily
wage followed by farmers (14%), weavers (5.6%)
and others 4.4%. The study revealed that poor income
group was more vulnerable to birth of child